Where To Eat?

It’s easy to have a great vegan meal when eating out. More and more restaurants are adding vegan items to the menu, and many chefs are happy to prepare a custom dish if you ask for one. Indian restaurants offer savory stews and curries made with lentils, beans, potatoes, and vegetables. Italian restaurants have a variety of pasta dishes and salads. Thai restaurants serve noodle, curry, and mixed vegetable entrees, usually available with tofu, and Mediterranean restaurants offer falafel sandwiches and vegetarian platters. Even some fast food chains have vegan dishes. If you know a restaurant in the Fresno/Clovis area that should be on this list, pleasecontact us. You may also wish to check out the Fresno area on HappyCow here. Bon appétit!

Fast Food

All these restaurant chains have some vegan options on the menu. If you’re in a hurry and need a quick bite, one of these chains is probably nearby.

Carl’s Jr. – The new Beyond Famous Star Burger is now available at all Carl’s Jr. locations! It’s a 100% plant-based burger, just make sure to request no cheese and mayonnaise (can substitute with BBQ sauce). Classic Carl’s Jr. taste without the meat.

Chipotle – This is a go-to chain. Order a vegetarian burrito or bowl (no cheese or sour creme) packed with your choice of beans, rice, guacamole, fajita vegetables, lettuce, corn, and your choice of salsas. Or try their Sofritas option: shredded organic tofu braised with chipotle chilis, roasted poblanos, and a blend of aromatic spices.

Me N Eds – This Central Valley institution will satisfy your pizza cravings in a pinch. Order a cheese-free pizza on original or thick crust and packed with your favorite vegetable toppings.

Papa Murphys – Enjoy their thin crust Veggie deLITE or a delicious Gourmet Vegetarian pizza. Just ask for red sauce on your pie, no cheese, and no “herb & cheese blend” topping. When your pizza is ready to go in the oven, try topping it with some Vegan Gourmet Shreds from Follow Your Heart. They’re so good! (You’ll find vegan cheeses at the Adventist Book Center, Target, Savemart, Sprouts, and Whole Foods Market. See our Grocery Stores page for details.)

Panda Express – This Chinese fast food staple now offers vegan versions of their Eggplant Tofu and Chow Mein at all locations where these standard menu items are sold.

Pieology – Build-your-own pizza chain from California. You can pile up as many veggies as you want with daiya cheese. Some locations also have vegan meats for an extra cost. Only the gluten free crust is vegan, as the whole wheat contains honey and regular may contain whey.

Pita Pit – Treat yourself to a satisfying salad or pita sandwich. There are four vegan sandwiches to choose from, all of which can be made as salads: Garden (your choice of veggies and sauce), Falafel (yummy chickpea patties on the basic Garden sandwich, no cheese), Hummus (creamy chickpea spread on the basic sandwich, no cheese), and Spicy Black Bean (a delicious black bean patty with your choice of veggies and sauce, no cheese). Be aware than many of Pita Pit’s sauces contain eggs and/or dairy products, so ask a manager to specify which ones are vegan.

Taco Bell – Taco Bell is a good option for road trips and late night eats. Vegan ordering is made easy by getting “fresco style” which substitutes any dairy with pico de gallo and you can also substitute beans for meat. Try ordering a “fresco” bean burrito and add rice, potatoes, or guacamole for a heartier meal. Another customized option worth trying is the Crunchwrap (fresco style), sub beans for meat, and add potatoes. The Nacho Fries are also vegan, just substitute the cheese for guacamole or try them as an add-on in a burrito or crunchwrap.

Food Trucks/Pop-Ups

Formerly known as Side Ho Vegan. Local vegan pop-up that specializes in sides, appetizers, and desserts. Usually has popup events at 1418 Fulton Street and Yoshi Now. Please visit their Instagram for more details.

Local vegetarian and vegan business that offers catering and various grab-and-go items such as burritos, pastas, sandwiches, salads, and more. Everything is labeled with either a VG for vegetarian or a V for Vegan, and most items are vegan. You can find their products at Kuppa Joy in Old Town Clovis, Collect Coffee Bar, Rio Acai Bowls, Fitness Social, and ABC Christian Books & Health Foods. Also does some pop-up events and weekly meal preps. Visit their Instagram and Facebook for more details.

Restaurants

Batter Up is a fun and family-friendly local breakfast house that specializes in delicious and LARGE pancakes! They offer vegan pancakes, gluten-free vegan pancakes, and a vegan breakfast (complete with hashbrowns and veggies). Note: The butter they serve on the side with the vegan pancakes is not vegan.

BluFin serves traditional Japanese cuisine but offers a separate vegetarian menu that is now entirely vegan! They have vegan cheese, cream cheese, and spicy mayo. A few tasty options are the Veganlicious Roll, IVegan, and Mr. Potato. Plus they have other non-sushi options including Ramen and Udon.

Specializes in both Northern and Southern Indian cuisine. Outstanding selection of vegan dishes, and more can be made upon request with advance notice. Lunch buffet available for $8.99 (includes salad, vadas or pulugulu, sambar soup, veg curry, channa masala, and several chutneys). All soups, most appetizers, and most dosas are vegan as well.

Our resident tamale specialists. Casa de Tamales also operates a booth at the Vineyard Farmer’s Market (NW corner of Blackstone & Shaw in Fresno) every Saturday morning and at Enzo’s Table (Willow & Shepherd in Clovis) every Sunday morning. Regular menu includes three vegan tamales: “Farmers Market” seasonal veggies topped with tomatillo sauce; “Spinach & Artichoke” with potatoes and a creamy vegan sauce, filled in a red chile masa and served with roasted corn; “Portobello & Asparagus” sautéed with guajillo chiles, filled in red chile masa, and served with guacamole. The “Savory Sweet Corn” tamale can also be made vegan by asking for no cheese and cream. Tamales served on a limited basis include the “Soyrizo con Papas” topped with fresh guacamole and “Pumpkin.” You can try the “Soyrizo con Papas” tamale on Sunday mornings off their brunch menu. Rice and beans contain no animal products.

Family-owned Chinese food restaurant in Clovis. Serves meat, but staff is very good at making sure an item is vegan when requested. Most items under the vegetarian section can be made vegan. Some offerings that can be made vegan include Chicken Chow Mein, Chicken Fried Rice, Broccoli Beef, and Tofu Vegetable Soup.

A Southern California based chain that now offers beyond beef as a protein option! Can build your own tacos, burritos, and salads with Beyond Beef, fajita veggies, black beans, and white lime rice. The Spanish rice is not vegan.

Family owned pizza restaurant with an Indian influence. Serves meat, but has a separate vegan menu that includes an awesome variety of pizzas, wings, and appetizers, such as breadsticks and loaded curry waffle fries.

Second location of the healthy drive-thru that started in Visalia. Offers a variety of breakfast and brunch items including breakfast bowls, acai bowls, and savory bowls. Labels what can easily be made vegan and how to make it vegan on their menu.

Traditional Ethiopian cuisine with an excellent variety of vegan dishes. Consider trying the yellow split peas, brown lentils, mashed chickpeas, collard greens, and string beans. All vegetable entrees can be ordered individually or as part of a four-entree combination platter. All orders served on top of vegan injera bread.

HopPK is collaboration between Sanger’s House of Pendragon and Visalia’s Pita Kabob & Grill combined into a gastropub. They offer many vegan items that can be easily identified on the menu with a V, such as lentil soup, a hummus pita wrap, and a falafel pita wrap. On Wednesdays, you can also try the vegan Veg-Out burger made from a crispy garbanzo beans, quinoa, and cauliflower patty, topped with lettuce, tomato, pickles, crispy onion straws, avocado, and choice of tahini sauce.

Ike’s Love & Sandwiches is a beloved sandwich shop originally from the Bay Area that has expanded throughout California. Each location has unique specialty sandwiches in addition to the standard menu. They have vegan meats, vegan sauces, and vegan breads. The Vegan RoadRunner is great!

Family-run Japanese sweet shop specializing in fresh mochi made daily on site. Operating in Downtown Fresno for over 100 years. Fresh fruit mochi flavors are seasonal, but include blueberry, strawberry, and traditional red (adzuki) bean. They also offer peach, mango, and raspberry sorbet. Ask the owner for more details. On a hot day, consider trying some of their refreshing shaved ice. Note: This establishment is cash only.

Chinese American restaurant with aseparate green colored vegetarian menu. Most of the items on the vegetarian menu are vegan, but some contain egg, so please specify vegan to be sure. Offers a variety of vegan meats featuring tofu, seitan, and other vegetable meats. Some of the vegan dishes include Vegetarian Peking Chicken, Vegetarian Orange Chicken, Chow Fun, Fried Rice, Egg Rolls, and Spinach Tofu Soup.

One of Fresno’s only 100% vegan restaurants. Features a variety of pan-Asian dishes all for around $7. (Note: this is no longer a cash only establishment! Visa is accepted.) Specialties include the Eastern Paradise (curried fried rice), Blissful (lemongrass, soy meat, steamed greens, and rice), Angelic Chow Fun (pan-fried noodles, tofu, soy meat, veggies, and onion), and The Dharma (curry claypot with potatoes, carrots, and soy meat).

Typical Mediterranean cuisine featuring the usual vegetable dishes: hummus, baba ghanoush, falafel (as a side or sandwich), dolma, fattoush salad, tabbouleh, garden salad, french fries, and a vegetarian plate. (Note: this establishment is only open for lunch.)

Family-owned Mexican panaderia (bakery) with an entire section dedicated to vegan goodies. Selection varies day to day, but some of the items you can find are bolillos, conchas, donuts, brownies, flan, tiramisu, and tres leches. If you order in advance, you can also customize an entire vegan cake!

100% vegan and raw restaurant! Raw Fresno provides prepackaged, organic, locally grown, gourmet, plant based, meals, appetizers, entrees, desserts, fresh juice, smoothies, and beverages, including CBD infused coffee and other CBD infused items. Everything is created using sustainable practices that honor our constant connection to the earth. Catering is available. You may also enjoy Raw Fresno in their food truck around town at Kaiser Hospital Wednesdays 9am-2pm, Fresno City College Tues/Thurs 11am-6pm, and Art Hop the first Thursday of each month.Click here to visit the Raw Fresno website.

Serves acai bowls, all of which can be made vegan with a few simple adjustments – just be sure to ask for the Gluten Free granola since the regular contains honey and avoid whey. Also has many vegan options available for grab-and-go from Rappit Up.

Can substitute in a vegan soy dog for $1 extra for any of the sausages and the staff will even work to flavor match it to the one they’re replacing. Baguette is the only vegan bread option, as the others contain egg.

Sushi restaurant with a few basic vegan options. Vegan options include Avocado rolls, Carrot rolls, Cucumber rolls, and Vegetarian rolls (avocado, carrots, and cucumber). Also offer a teriyaki bowl that you can order with fried tofu.

Punjabi Indian restaurant and buffet. The $10 all you can eat buffet is during lunch from 11:30-3pm. Serves meat but has vegan choices clearly labeled on the menu. Some of the vegan items are Samosas, Pakoras, Dal (Lentil) Soup, Aloo Gobi, Chana Masala, Gobi Paratha, and Kheer.

Concert venue, restaurant and bar in Tower named after frontman of The Clash, Joe Strummer. Serves meat, but offers several vegan comfort food options, such as soy chicken taquitos, versions of the Impossible burger, a Southern BLT, and an Italian sandwich.

Chinese restaurant with a separate vegetarian menu. Many items on the vegetarian menu are vegan or can be made vegan, such as the chow mein, egg rolls, and many soups. Owner is very friendly. Ask staff to clarify which items can be made vegan.

Tower Sushi is a traditional Japanese Sushi bar in the heart of the Tower District. Recently, Tower Sushi has dedicated a whole menu to vegan Japanese food including sushi rolls, udon, fried rice, and much more! Great place to have tasty Japanese food whileenjoying the sites and fun of the Tower District!

This fusion chain has some great vegan options. Whether on a taco, burrito, salad, or sandwich, you can add your choice of four delicious fillings: Tofu (in a Polynesian marinade), Mushrooms (in a Polynesian marinade), Vegetarian (rice, black beans, lettuce, cabbage, cheese, and salsa), and Banzai Veggies (bell peppers, onions, zucchini, broccoli, mushrooms, and cabbage, sautéed in teriyaki sauce). Other choices include the Veggie Bowl, Wafu Bowl, Kale Kai Salad (with oil and vinegar or salsa) and french fries. For all orders, be sure to request brown rice and no cheese. Both the black and white beans are vegan, but be aware that Wahoo’s green sauce contains egg mayonnaise.

Sandwich franchise from Dallas, Texas located near Sierra Vista Mall. When you walk in, grab a paper bag and choose what you want on your sandwich from the menu on the wall. Which Wich serves meat but has some yummy vegan options that are clearly labeled on the menu. Try the “The Avocado” or “Black Bean Patty” sandwiches topped with your favorite veggies and sauces like BBQ or hummus on a white baguette, in a lettuce wrap, or even in a salad.

American restaurant and sports bar with a number of good options. Vegan snacks include truffle fries (without shredded parmesan), guacamole and chips, sweet potato fries (sans maple bacon cream dip), hummus, and chilled edamame. The Summer salad, mixed field greens, and chopped salad are also vegan. Menu features an entire section of dishes using Gardein brand grain meat. Many of these dishes include dairy and/or egg products, so be sure to ask your server which items can be prepared without them.

Salvadorean and Mexican dishes served in a casual and unassuming setting. Be sure to try the the zucchini and loroco pupusas (without cheese), either a la carte or as part of the “Tipicos Salvadoreños” platter #1. The platter comes with two pupusas, fried plantain, pickled cabbage, and refried beans (specify no sour creme). A tasty vegan burrito can also be made on request, but be aware that Zamora’s rice is made with chicken broth.